Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently on a crucial visit to the United States where he will present his country’s plan to end two and a half years of war with Russia. This visit comes after a summer of intense fighting between Moscow and Kyiv. During his visit, Zelensky aims to convince U.S. President Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia, which has not been granted so far.
Zelensky began his visit by expressing gratitude to the workers at a factory in Pennsylvania that produces badly needed 155mm artillery shells. He emphasized the importance of factories like this one in ensuring the triumph of democracy over authoritarianism. The coming weeks will determine how more than 30 months of fighting, resulting in thousands of casualties, will ultimately come to an end.
In his discussions with President Biden and other officials, Zelensky is expected to present a “victory plan” for Ukraine. While the details of this plan have not been made public, it envisions that “war will not return to us again in an even bigger wave” in years to come. The proposals also include “quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners,” such as strengthening Ukraine’s weapons capabilities and securing a clear place for Ukraine in the world’s security architecture.
During his visit, Zelensky will meet with both Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump. It is expected that he will present his proposals to all leaders of their partner countries, including the U.S. Congress. No details on Ukraine’s plan have been made public, but it is believed that Zelensky will first show it to President Biden before presenting it to other officials and political figures.
The visit follows weeks of pressure from Kyiv for the West to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russia. While some decisions may be difficult, Ukraine hopes to secure the support needed to put an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Moscow has warned that providing such support would be considered a declaration of war, but Ukraine remains hopeful that its proposals will gain traction and ultimately lead to peace.